Grant: CIHR Fellowship

Loss of myelin, the fatty insulating material that wraps around nerve cells, is a hallmark of MS. The accumulating myelin damage results in neurological deficits including impairment of movement. A valid approach to treat MS involves finding ways to stimulate myelin repair (remyelination). A major barrier to this is the insufficient knowledge of the myelin repair process, and also of the similarities and differences between myelination that occurs during normal development and remyelination. Our research team is interested in studying the function of a specific molecule called PTPa, which is highly expressed in the brain. We find that mice that do not produce PTPa have defective myelination. Moreover, PTPa is required for the normal growth and maturation of myelin-producing cells. In this proposal, we will investigate how PTPa may help transmit signals into the myelin-producing cells and direct them to mature and make myelin. We will also determine, using models of myelin destruction, whether PTPa is required for myelin repair. Results from this study will improve our understanding of the molecular controls regulating these intricate processes and provide insights to developing novel therapies to treat MS.